Ciao, Bella!
In case you didn’t see over on Instagram… we went to ITALY!
While Amberley + Emily were checking out Ireland back in October… Kim, Leslie, and Jen were in Italy! This trip we’re talking all things PUGLIA! Kim got in a few days early to check out Rome before heading to Bari to start the trip with Exclusively Italy !!!
First stop: Rocco Forte Hotel De La Ville - a stunning property located at the top of the Spanish Steps - a very ideal location for a stop in Rome!
During our stay we got to spend some time with I.D.I Travel on a fantastic vintage car tour - I mean check out our rides!
On top of that, we toured the colosseum, Vatican, Trevi fountain, and more with Exclusively Italy!
Next, we headed to the southern coastal region of Italy known as Puglia (Apuglia)! You know - the part that makes up the heel of the boot?! It is so full of history, coastline, and food & wine 🇮🇹
Puglia is home to lots of history, farmland, whitewashed hill towns, and STUNNING Mediterranean coastline! It’s known as one of Italy’s most beautiful coastlines - stretching over 800km. With a laid back and relaxed vibe, it is scattered with quaint seaside villages and sun-bleached sandy beaches! On this trip, we are taking you through the towns of Lecce, Matera, Alberobello and Ostuni, Torre Canne, and MORE along the way!
First stop down south, we are kicking it off with another Rocco Forte property, Masseria Torre Maizza, located in Savelletri di Fasano in the hills of Puglia with the backdrop of the Adriatic Sea… dreamy!
Once we arrived, we enjoyed cocktails on the rooftop with GM, Franco, a walking tour of Sternatia with the locals, and topped it all off with a 4 course dinner with wine pairing at the main restaurant - Carosello 🍷🍝
Before we knew it they ended up singing karaoke and dancing with Carmelo! What a way to kick off the trip! A huge shoutout to Paola and Franco for being the perfect hosts! Masseria Torre Maizza is an authentic Italian hideaway, that is surrounded by ancient olive groves, has a spa, golf course, rooftop bar + more! It blends local heritage with contemporary luxury and unparalleled service. 🙌🏼
Your turn to visit! 😏🍷
Jen fell in love with the olive trees here, they are outrageous! At over 1,000 years old, they are still harvested for olive oil and olives to this today! There are over sixty million olive trees in Puglia, and they produce around 40% of the country’s olive oil production… that amounts to about 300,000 tonnes of olive oil a year! Time to taste some olive oil? Yes please!
Check out Leslie in the Granafei, which is an underground olive mill from the 15th century located in Sternatia. Fun fact: the 15th century workers were locked in the mill for months at a time! Crazy.
On our walking tour of Sternatia, a greek-speaking village in the region of Salento, we attended the most amazing cooking class that was located in a private castle and taught by an Apulian Mama!
We learned to prepare some of the typical dishes of the local cucina povera, which literally means ‘poor kitchen’ – the name given to the traditional Mediterranean cuisine of the past, using only the local seasonal ingredients. It may not sound like much, but trust us, it’s delicious. This is the perfect experience if you’re looking for authenticity and experiencing the real Apulia (Puglia)
Welcome to Matera!
The 3rd oldest city in the world, right behind Jericho and Aleppo. This city is an absolute miracle as it was transformed from poverty and ruin to a very hot spot for cave-like luxury hotels and experiences. Less than 70 years ago, peasants and farmers were living with their families, up to 10 people or more, in a single room along with their livestock. Diseases ravished the town creating a high mortality rate. Eventually the government stepped in and relocated the inhabitants in the 1950s. Years later, renewed vision and investment led to the cave dwellings becoming a noted historic tourism destination, with hotels, small museums and restaurants – and a vibrant arts community.
In 2019, Matera was labeled Europe’s capital of culture, and with good reason. The depth of the city and its people are reason enough to visit - It is now known as a Unesco world heritage site!
Fun Fact: both The Passion Of The Christ & the last James Bond were filmed here 🎥 🍿
We stopped by Sextantio Hotel for aperitivo + a tour — and we get it. Rich in culture and history, the cave hotels in Matera are such a cool experience… Le Grotte della Civita is placed in the oldest part of the Sassi, the CIVITA, facing the spectacular Murgia park and its rock-hewn churches. It comprises 18 rooms and an ancient church, the “Cripta della Civita”, now used as a common area, all renovated to retain their original features.
Polignano a Mare - a small, authentic beach town in Puglia… what a dream
Get off the beaten path and visit this sweet seaside village! It’s white washed stone structures that weave you from one end of the city to the other make it a unique and genuine option for an Italian adventure next year! You will often find Italians themselves taking their summer vacations here. Polignano a Mare is also home to the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series… People have been enjoying cliff diving here for years with perfect cliff structures and depth of water making it ideal for diving into the sea!
Next stop is Alberobello - a quaint Apulian town characterized by the white of its splendid buildings.
Alberobello, the home of the Trulli, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. “Trulli” are the whitewashed stone huts with cone shapes roofs! It is in the province of Bari, a place of enchanting charm, located in the Itria Valley. It is spread over two hills: on the eastern hill there is the new city, on the western hill there are the wonderful Trulli, an architectural example of considerable historical importance. You can’t miss a day trip to Alberobello when you come to Puglia!
Welcome to Lecce!
Today we enjoyed a unique experience discovering the Puglia Cuisine! In the ancient heart of the city of Lecce, the lesson began with a walk among the main streets of the Baroque town with its splendid churches that ended at the small local markets where we chose local products such as fruits, seasonal vegetables and even cheeses of the area to be transformed into excellent dishes. Before returning to school, we stopped to enjoy the “Lecce” styled coffee, ice coffee with almond milk, typical of this city! The, we began our lesson… We each had our own workstation where we found everything we needed to cook with Gianna - a tasty traditional menu, from appetizer to dessert. We picked fresh herbs to flavor our dishes directly from the garden, and at the end we sat together and enjoyed the dishes prepared, along with some wonderful local wine. This experience is not to be missed during your time in Lecce - the best way to get to know a place, is through it’s food + people!
Last stop :( We had to stop by and check out how Borgo Egnazia is doing!
Borgo Egnazia is located in Savelletri di Fasano, where the hills of the Itria Valley fall into the Adriatic Sea, and the property itself is inspired by the shapes, materials and colours of a typical Puglian village. This authenticity was conceived to bring a fresh and original feel that is found ‘nowhere else’, alongside impeccable service. It is a mini world of homemade breakfasts prepared by Puglian Massaie, delicious food experiences (both gourmet and traditional), the poetic Puglian Spa, two beautiful private beaches (Cala Masciola and La Fonte) and the scenic San Domenico Golf surrounded by ancient olive trees with views that stretch to the sea. And then there’s the service; tailored, friendly and caring, a dedicated team always available to guests. All year round, in every season, Borgo Egnazia embodies a different concept of hospitality and wellbeing based on local, authentic experiences in the incomparable beauty of the Puglian countryside. Not to mention it’s Madonna choice of location for her birthday celebrations ;) can you say celeb hotel?!?
We absolutely LOVED our time in Puglia, and really encourage you to check it out - especially if you have been to Italy before and want to experience something new! Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any interest or even questions about our trip! Lastly, a bit shoutout to Exclusively Italy for putting together an amazing itinerary for us. You are in good hands with Alessio!